Antirrhinum plant named ‘AACRC03’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Antirrhinum  cultivar named ‘AACRC03’ is disclosed, characterized a compact, mounding plant habit, flexible stems and distinctive red/purple flowers. The new variety is an  Antirrhinum,  typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Antirrhinum majus.

Variety denomination: ‘AACRC03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, anunnamed, unpatented proprietary selection of Antirrhinum majus with thepollen parent a different unnamed, unpatented Antirrhinum majus. Thecrossing was made during November of 2005, at a commercial greenhouse inNew South Wales Australia. ‘AACRC03’ was discovered by the inventor,Graham Brown, a citizen of Australia, in New South Wales, at acommercial greenhouse during November of 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AACRC03’ was first performedin New South Wales, Australia, at a commercial greenhouse by vegetativecuttings in November 2007. ‘AACRC03’ has since produced severalgenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AACRC03’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘AACRC03.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘AACRC03’ as a new and distinct Antirrhinumcultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, mounded plant habit.    -   2. Early flowering.    -   3. Flexible, non-brittle stems.    -   4. Distinctive red-purple flowers.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AACRC03’ are similar to the female parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, ‘AACRC03’ differs inproducing a compact, mounding plant, whereas the seed parent has atrailing plant habit. Additionally, the seed parent flowers three weekslater than the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AACRC03’ are similar to the male parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However, ‘AACRC03’ differs in havinga compact, mounded plant habit, whereas the pollen has a distinctivelyupright plant habit.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘AACRC03’ can be compared to the commercial variety Antirrhinum majus‘Balumrest’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,879. Plants of ‘Balumdepur’ aresimilar to plants of ‘AACRC03’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, ‘AACRC03’ produces a flower with a different color red, andstems that are less brittle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘AACRC03’ grown outdoors in Lompoc, Calif. This plantis approximately 6 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph wastaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The R.H.S.Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘AACRC03’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Bodger, Calif.Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 29° C. night and day. No artificiallight, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to 4000 fc oflight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Antrrhinum majus ‘AACRC03’

PROPAGATION

-   Propagation method: Vegetative Cuttings-   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree.    C-   Time to develop roots: About 20 days at temperatures of    20-25.degree. C.-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding annual.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 6 months from a rooted    cutting.-   Container size: 6″ pot.-   Height: Measured from top soil line of pot, approximately 12 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 44 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Very free branching.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 18 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Background Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Strength.—Moderate, highly flexible.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Simple, opposite. Sessile.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Symmetrical cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, matte.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous, matte.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 18.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138C. Venation: Type: Pinnate, reticulate.            Venation color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.            Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 138C.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring.-   Inflorescence description: Single bi-labiate flowers arranged on    terminal racemes; flowers facing outward.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 1    week.-   Quantity of flowers: 3 to 5 per raceme. Approximately 60 open    inflorescences per plant.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.5 cm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Texture.—Very lightly pubescent.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Flower bud (Just before opening):    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Color.—Top Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A, bottom near            Yellow-Green N144D.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower form.—Single bi-labiate.        -   Flower diameter.—Approximately 3.2 cm.        -   Flower length.—Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—1 upper lip, 2 lobed, 1 lower lip, 3 lobed, with            palate.        -   Arrangement.—Lips fused at approximately 50% of length of            flower.        -   Upper lip, unfused portion.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.            Width: Approximately 1.6 cm. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Aspect: Strongly curled apex. Texture: Inner side: Glabrous.            Outer side: Pubescent. Appearance: Velvety. Color flower            tube: At opening: Inner Surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 60A.            Outer surface: Near RHS White N155B, with strong flushing            near Red-Purple 60A. Mature: Inner Surface: Near RHS Red            53A. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 59C. Fading: Inner            Surface: Near Red-Purple 60B. Outer surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 60C.        -   Lower lip, unfused portion.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm.            Width: Approximately 1.8 cm. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture: Inner side: Glabrous. Outer side: Pubescent.            Appearance: Velvety. At opening: Inner Surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 59B. Outer surface: Near RHS White N155C. Mature:            Inner Surface: Near RHS Red 53A. Outer surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 59C. Fading: Inner Surface: Near Purple N79D.            Outer surface: Near Red 46C.-   Palate:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous out edge with villous interior. Hairs            colored near RHS N155D.        -   Appearance.—Velvety.        -   Color.—At opening: Near RHS Red 53A. Mature: Near RHS Red            53A. Large stripe in center of White N155D. Fading: Near RHS            Red 46B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Average 5.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Inner Surface: Near RHS Green 138A. Outer Surface:            Near RHS Green 138A.-   Fragrance: Very faint.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS White N155D.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 15D.        -   Anther shape.—2 lobed ellipse.        -   Pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 9A.-   Gynoecium:-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: Near RHS            Red-Purple 60A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Globular. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.            Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Antirrhinum has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    −1° C. to 32° C.-   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant named ‘AACRC03’ asherein illustrated and described.